The film stars James Franco and Seth Rogen as talk show hosts who score an interview with a fan–North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un. A CIA operative (Lizzy Kaplan) helps them try to assassinate the North Korean leader.

After hacks into Sony and threats of violence comparable to 9/11 from those hackers if the film was released, the company decided not to show the film on Christmas Day. Regarding the planned premier of the movie, the hackers said,

“The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you’d better leave.)”

In response, Sony released a statement on the withdrawal of the film’s release:

“Those who attacked us stole our intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material, and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale – all apparently to thwart the release of a movie they did not like.

“We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public.”

Prior to Sony’s announcement, the top five movie theater chains–Regal Entertainment, AMC Entertainment, Cinemark, Carmike Cinemas, and Cineplex Entertainment–said they would not show the film.

Furthermore, the New York City premiere of the film was cancelled. Franco and Rogen cancelled all media appearances, including a BuzzFeed Q&A and a guest appearance slated for Thursday on Late Night With Seth Meyers, according to The Associated Press.

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The company left the door open to a possible future release on premium on-demand, Variety reported.